Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic and World medallist in javelin throw, returned to winning ways at the Diamond League by securing victory in the Paris leg late on Friday night, his first title on the circuit in two years. The triumph came without the elusive 90m throw, but it was enough to beat a stellar field including Germany’s Julian Weber.
The 27-year-old’s opening attempt of 88.16m proved unassailable through the evening, setting the tone for a night that reaffirmed his stature in world athletics. Weber, who had pipped Chopra in recent encounters including the Doha Diamond League and the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet, managed a best of 87.88m to finish second. Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva claimed third with a throw of 86.62m.
“I am happy with my throw... My run-up was really fast today. I can't control my speed, but I'm happy with the result and with the first position,” Chopra told the event broadcaster.
Despite fouling three of his six attempts, Chopra’s first-round effort remained the best of the competition. His second throw measured 85.10m while the final registered 82.89m. His other throws were disqualified due to faults.
This was Chopra’s first win in the Paris leg of the prestigious athletics series. The last time he competed at this venue was in 2017 as a junior world champion, when he finished fifth with a mark of 84.67m.
Chopra last claimed a Diamond League title in Lausanne in June 2023 with a throw of 87.66m. Since then, he had finished runner-up in six meetings, including the Doha leg this May, where he had registered a career-best 90.23m, his only 90m-plus throw so far. On that occasion, Weber edged him with a mighty 91.06m final-round effort.
Also read: Chopra seeks top finish at Paris Diamond League
Weber, 31, had also taken top honours at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet in Poland on 23 May, where both throwers struggled in challenging weather. Weber managed 86.12m, while Chopra trailed at 84.14m.
“I’m hoping for some 90 metre throws because I broke that barrier in Doha. So now I believe I can do it some more… But let's see, it depends on weather and good conditions, how the body feels, but maybe I will throw far in this season,” Chopra said.
Among the other competitors in Paris were Kenya’s Julius Yego (2015 World Champion), Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (2012 Olympic champion), and Grenada’s Anderson Peters — all past 90m club members. But they fell short of their best on the night. Walcott took fourth with 81.66m, while Peters (80.29m) and Yego (80.26m) finished fifth and sixth respectively.
Chopra began the 2025 season with a modest win at a minor category event in Potchefstroom, South Africa, throwing 84.52m.
He is now slated to participate in the Golden Spike meet at Ostrava on 24 June, followed by the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on 5 July, a World Athletics category A event hosted by the star himself.
“I will compete in Ostrava (Golden Spike athletic meet) after four days on the 24th of June. So I need some recovery,” he said.
India’s Neeraj Chopra stormed back to the top of the Diamond League podium in Paris with an 88.16m throw, defeating a high-calibre field including Germany’s Julian Weber. The Olympic champion’s first-round effort secured his first DL title since June 2023.
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